NEWS
The first event in South Korea for Umeå University alumni (former students) took place on 17 March in Seoul. New and old friends met as the newest alumni chapter was established in South Korea.
Alumni not only had the chance to meet one another, but also a delegation of representatives from Umeå University. The alumni chapter will serve as a forum for networking, exchanging ideas and connecting back to Umeå.
Activities and events that further knowledge and collaboration will be planned for alumni, exchange students and potential students in Seoul.
Global links with alumni
Umeå University alumni are spread around the world, representing living links to international education, research and business.
As natural ambassadors for education in Sweden, alumni are important representatives for Umeå University. In the 2013 International Student Barometer results, a survey distributed to international students around the world, 24% of Umeå University international students reported hearing about the university from former students.
Drawn to Sweden
But the alumni network nurtures mutually beneficial relationships between alumni and the university.
Many alumni are interested in returning to Sweden after their exchange studies, like Sujin Hwang who studied english literature in Umeå in 2012. Six months later, she returned to Sweden for an internship with LG Electronics in Stockholm.
”The nature in Sweden,” Sujin started, ”I feel is the best in the world. And Sweden is kind and open-minded. It just takes time to get to know each other.” Sujin is now finishing her studies back in South Korea.
Exchanges with South Korea
Collaboration between Umeå University and universities in South Korea have flourished recently and are expanding. A delegation from Umeå University, including Anders Fällström, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, is currently in South Korea visiting existing and potential partner universities.
Anders Fällström expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities, ”Our collaboration with Korea in the past two years has been very successful for both outgoing students and students coming to us.”
Three exchange students are currently studying in South Korea from Umeå University. Joakim Lundmark, student at the Umeå School of Business and Economics, reflected on his experience in Seoul thus far, ”The best part of Seoul is its size; everything can be found here, from the skies to the earth.”
Anders Fällström believes the ”exciting culture, high quality education and a genial and easy-going people” have contributed to making the country one of the most popular among Umeå University students.
